Wooden Projectile

ABSTRACT

The disclosure herein provides for a wooden projectile to be used in firearm that is comprised of wood; and in some embodiments combined with other materials. Further disclosed is a method of manufacturing the wooden projectiles with a silicon substrate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of wooden projectiles, in particular wooden bullets.

2. Description of Related Art

The use of wooden bullets dates back to the First World War. An account by a US Soldier details his encounter with these types of ballistics in a German foxhole during World War 1. He described a 7 mm bright purple slug that was made of hardwood. From this account, the soldier explained that the slug was designed to split into splinters and inflict a slow painful death on the wounded enemy with inoperable injuries. Wooden bullets were also used by Nazi Germany and Japan during this time period.

Another example of the use of wooden bullets can be found in German Mauser rifles. Two types of wooden bullets were used in these rifles: the first was a short, soft, wooden plug and was used only for training purposes. The second type of wooden bullet was a full-sized, painted hardwood, round-nosed slug. This second example was used exclusively for training in marksmanship fundamentals, and due to its lightweight, penetration was unlikely. The deficiencies of these prior art lie in the fact that neither bullet could be used to injure or kill a target.

The British Commonwealth also made use of wooden projectiles for training purposes. In 1910, they designed a hybrid bullet, the 303 MK VII, in which the first ⅜″ was filled with wood and the remainder was lead, all under a metal jacket. Due to this hybrid design, these bullets would violently twist on impact. While this prior art proved to be effective in battle, its hybridity prevents it from being a true wooden bullet.

Present day, the use of wooden bullets is most commonly used for crowd control. These projectiles used for crowd control disintegrate shortly after leaving the barrel, making them safe and effective for this type of use. While a bullet that disintegrates shortly after being fired may effectively serve for purposes of crowd control, it has less utility for applications other than crowd control.

Despite the various types and uses for wooden bullets, the prior art has failed in some field. Whether the bullets are limited to use for training purposes, are ineffective in hitting targets, or the fact that they can only be used in special guns or with special adapters, the deficiencies of the prior art is obvious. Prior art is further lacking in its inability to be used in the absence of a special device installed onto the gun.

Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a new wooden bullet. This new and improved wooden bullet could be made of entirely wood with the exception of a recycled metal shell. Upon leaving the barrel the metal shell would disintegrate leaving only the wooden slug to hit the target. Depending on the size and the type of wood being used for the bullet, the bullet could be used to hit a target in a spray like fashion similar to a pellet gun; only this bullet would spray wooden splinters at the target. The unique, segmented design of the wooden bullet would allow it to be used in almost all shotguns without the use of a special adapter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes deficiencies of the prior art by providing a wooden projectile to fit within a casing. Embodiments are described, a solid wooden bullet, a segmented hybrid, and a plywood bullet formed of wood sawdust or particles bound together.

The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to FIG. 1, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

100131 As shown in the accompanying FIG. 1, the present invention is directed to a projectile generally indicated as the type structured to be fired from a firearm. More specifically, the projectile includes a body, which comprises a bullet 25 with a core substantially made of wood, and a tail portion or cartridge 60, which provides a casing 15 and propellant 20. The bullet 25 is constructed from at least a wood-containing component, and this wood-containing component often forms a majority component of the bullet.

The present disclosure is directed to projectiles that contain a wood containing component and which are either entirely wood, or a mixture comprised of wood and an epoxy adhesive such as polyurethane, acrylic, cyanoacrylate, or another engineering adhesive.

As shown in FIG. 1, the projectile according to the present disclosure includes a body having a nose with a soft tip 30 and meplat 35, or forward region, and a base or rearward region. As used herein, the forward region refers to the portion of the projectile that is designed to first leave the barrel of a firearm from which the projectile is fired. Similarly, the base, or rearward region refers to the portion of the projectile which is oriented toward the primer 5 and propellant 20 in a firearm cartridge 60 and thereby is the last portion of the slug to leave the firearm barrel. In the illustrated embodiment, the nose or forward region of the projectile has a tapered, generally convex configuration, and the base or rearward region defines a flat, or generally planar region.

In some embodiments, the body, or forward region is at least partially surrounded by metal casing in the cartridge 60 to account for the higher pressure and velocity that is typically encountered when bullet cartridges are fired by pistols or rifles.

In an embodiment, the wooden bullet 25 is in communication with a cartridge 60. The cartridge 60 contains a flat distal surface, which acts a base for the cylindrical container to hold the propellant 20. The base of the cartridge 60 is rimmed with a bore in the center of the flat distal surface to provide for a boxer primer 5.

The cartridge 60 functions to package the bullet 25, a propellant 20, and a primer 5 within a metallic, paper, or plastic case 15 that is precisely made to fit within the firing chamber of a firearm. Cartridges with greater diameters are compatible with firearm barrels having relatively large bores, while cartridges with lesser diameters are compatible with firearm barrels having relatively small bores. It is within the scope of the disclosure to construct cartridges for virtually any size and/or type of firearm.

The primer 5 is a separate and replaceable component from the rest of the cartridge 60. The boxer primer 5 has an anvil, which sits inverted in the primer cup to provide sufficient resistance to the impact of the firing pin as it indents the cup and crushes the pressure sensitive ignition propellant 20. The firearm firing pin crushes this explosive between the cup and an anvil to produce hot gas and particles to ignite the powder charge.

Embodiments of the present invention allow for different sized primers to effect prompt ignition of the powder charge. Upon being struck with sufficient force, the primer 5 reacts chemically to produce heat, which ignites the main propellant 20 charge and fires the projectile bullet 65 forward.

The opposite side of the flat distal surface curves to provide for a curved rim, which decreases the circumference of the cartridge 60. The divot 70 can be of various height and width to allow for use in different gauge firearms and across different caliber dimensions.

The flash hole 50 is further encapsulated within the cartridge 60 and adjoins the boxer primer 5 to propellant 20. The propellant 20 fills most of the cartridge 60 and is encapsulated within the cartridge 60 an opposite flat wall of the flash hole 50 and boxing primer 5. At the flat wall, the cartridge 60 begins to taper with an opening in which the bullet can be placed.

In an embodiment, the wooden bullet can be shaped with a tangent or secant profile. The wooden bullet can also be of different lengths so as to take advantage of the host of benefits such as easier self-aligning into the riflings, less sensitivity to seating depth, and lower drag. The wooden bullet can contain an engraved threading to align within the rifling better.

With reference to FIG. 1, the soft tip 30 can be used in non-military defensive purposes. The soft tip can either be flat, rounded, or absent. The soft tip 30 can reduce expansion so that more penetration is achieved before the bullet begins the rapid deceleration caused by expansion. In one embodiment, the soft tip is softened wood that can splinter on impact as opposed to a lead soft tip that can mushroom on impact.

In an embodiment, the soft tip may be mostly wood particles, wherein the wood is softer and tend to breaking up on propulsion from case 15, or mainly epoxy, wherein the wood acts as a reinforcement agent within the epoxy bullet.

In an embodiment, the bullet is comprised of a metal boat tail 45, wooden bearing surface length, and wooden ogive. This metal boat tail 45 makes initial contact with the ignited material, and drives the bullet forward. This metal boat tail 45 provides a different density than the wooden nose of the bullet. This difference is exacerbated during impact of the bullet on a target. The wooden meplat 35 is driven further into target and can splinter at a higher rate.

In another embodiment, the bullet is comprised of a metal boat tail 45, metal bearing surface length, and wooden ogive. This allows for the bullet to have a higher bullet coefficient and greater traveling distance.

In another embodiment, the bullet is comprised of a wooden boat tail 45, metal bearing surface length, and wooden ogive. In this embodiment, the wooden boat tail 45 can be treated or preserved so as to increase the durability and resistance of the bullet to protect from the high pressure of the ignited propellant 20.

In an embodiment, the wooden bullet is fused with sodium silicate based preservatives, which possess minor flame resistant properties to avoid burning the bullet while still inside the chamber or barrel of a firearm. The sodium silicate surrounds wood fibers with a protective matrix and produces a decay resistant bullet and superior strength when compared with an untreated wood.

The present invention provides a wooden projectile to fit within the case 15. In an embodiment, a solid wooden bullet is cut or punched from a larger piece of wood. A piece of hardwood is cut using a saw or punch to a size able to fit within a case 15 with a tight pressure fit, such that propellant 20 does not escape from the case 15. The bullet may or may not have a boat tail 45 to assist in aerodynamics. The propellant 20 is reduced over prior art metal bullets in order to prevent destruction of the bullet as a result of the pressure of the burning propellant 20. Additionally, the grain of the wooden bullet is preferably perpendicular to the direction of the bullet's travel for the greatest compressive strength.

A second embodiment, better able to receive the pressure of the without splintering, comprises a bullet from plywood, with the grain perpendicular to the direction of travel for greatest compressive strength. The bullets are punched from the plywood to a dimension equal to the case 15 opening.

A third embodiment comprises wood sawdust or particles bound together by an epoxy resin to form a bullet, wherein the epoxy may be brittle to shatter on impact with the target to distribute the wood particles within the target. The epoxy may be formed of a cured resin from the epoxide functional group. The epoxy may cure within the liquid or by dropping through the air. The bullet's composition may be mostly wood particles, wherein the wood is softer and tend to breaking up on propulsion from case 15, or mainly epoxy, wherein the wood acts as a reinforcement agent within the epoxy bullet, forming a more durable bullet which leaves the barrel in one piece.

For penetrative ability, the bullet may have a metal tip and/or jacket 40, preferably of pure silver or a silver alloy. The bullet may also have a soft tip beneath instead of a metal tip, to facilitate splintering once the bullet impacts the target.

In an embodiment, to prevent the bullet from splintering or shattering as a result of the pressure of the propellant 20, the boat tail 45 or base of the bullet may be reinforced by metal or covered with a metal plate to distribute the force of the propellant 20.

In use, the firearm (not shown) retains the case 15 by holding the rim 10. The firearm's hammer strikes the primer 5 within the case 15, igniting the propellant 20, which expands within the case 15, and against the sides of the barrel. The expanding propellant 20 drives the bullet out of the case 15 and down the barrel and out of the firearm.

A process is disclosed for a method of fusing a metal boat tail 45 to a wooden bearing surface area and wooden ogive. This method comprises a method for coating the wooden bearing surface area in a silicon substrate to increase density and heat resistance. However, one flat wall of the wooden bearing surface area is not coated with said silicon substrate to allow for a metal boat tail 45 to be affixed with heat and pressure.

In an embodiment, the method comprises manufacturing a bullet having a percentage having at least 51% wood material by weight.

In an embodiment, the projectile can be manufactuered using 3-d printer technology.

In an embodiment, the method comprises manufacturing said bullet with a three dimensional printer. In another embodiment, the bullet is computer designed.

The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims. 

1. A projectile comprising: a. wood; b. A core; c. A bearing surface area; d. A propellant e. A casing that encloses the propellant such that the casing acts as a reaction chamber during burn of the projectile; f. A primer; g. A soft tip; h. An ogive; i. A boat tail.
 2. The projectile of claim one wherein the core is comprised entirely of wood.
 3. The projectile of claim two wherein the core comprises plywood with the grain perpendicular to the direction of travel.
 4. The projectile of claim two wherein the core comprises a mixture of wood and an epoxy resin.
 5. The projectile of claim two wherein the core comprises a mixture of wood sawdust bound together by an epoxy of cured resin.
 6. The projectile of claim two wherein the core comprises mixture of wood fused with sodium silicate base preservatives.
 7. The projectile of claim two wherein the projectile has a tangent profile.
 8. The projectile of claim two wherein the projectile has a secant profile.
 9. The projectile of claim two wherein the soft tip comprises softened wood and epoxy.
 10. The projectile of claim two wherein the soft tip comprises silver.
 11. The projectile of claim two wherein the ogive is comprised of wood.
 12. The projectile of claim two wherein the boat tail is comprised of wood.
 13. The projectile of claim twelve wherein the boat tail is reinforced by a metal plate to distribute the force of the propellant.
 14. A projectile of claim two wherein the core is comprised of at least 51% wood material by weight;
 15. The projectile of claim one wherein the projectile is manufactured using a three dimensional printer.
 16. A method for coating the wooden bearing surface area in a silicon substrate to increase density and heat resistance comprising one flat wall of the wooden bearing surface not coated with the silicon substrate to allow for a metal boat tail to be affixed with heat and pressure.
 17. A projectile comprising: a. A wooden core including plywood with the grain perpendicular to a direction of travel of the wooden core; b. A bearing surface area of the wooden core; c. A propellant d. A casing that encloses the propellant such that the casing acts as a reaction chamber during burn of the projectile and attaches the propellant to the wooden core; e. A primer coupled to the propellant; f. A soft tip including softened wood and epoxy; g. An ogive composed of wood surrounding the wooden core; and h. A boat tail composed of wood coupled to the wooden core.
 18. The projectile of claim seventeen wherein the boat tail is reinforced by a metal plate to distribute the force of the propellant.
 19. The projectile of claim seventeen wherein the projectile has a secant profile. 